Invading Earth for Dummies (Waxing "Spearhead From Space")

Rebooting Doctor Who is a feature of the show, not a bug, but it was still uncertain territory when Jon Pertwee took over in 1970. Sure, Patrick Troughton had taken over from William Hartnell a few years before, but it was very much the same show, following the adventures of a mysterious traveler and his human companions throughout all of time and space. Spearhead From Space boldly tosses out that formula, centers the show on contemporary Earth, and recasts the Doctor as a flamboyant action hero. OK, yes, those choices were made more out of budget necessity than bold storytelling, but the welcome return of the Brigadier reminds us this is still the same show, and it doesn’t hurt that store-window mannequins make for a hella creepy monster. Doctor Who is renewed again, for the first time.

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Story Essentials

• Season 7, Serial 1

• Story number: 50, per the The Pull To Open Codex

• Production Code: AAA

• Writers: Robert Holmes

• Producer: Derrick Sherwin

• Aired 3 January - 24 January 1970

Pull To Open: Spearhead From Space

• Season 3

• Episode 25

Hosts: Pete Pachal and Chris Taylor

Interlude music: Freestylah by Alexander Nakarada

Outro music: Chronos by Alexander Nakarada